Photo-printing easel



June 28, 1955 A. J. CLARKE 2,711,670

PHOTO-PRINTING EASEL Filed Dec. 18, 1952 F I G I 1 INVENTOR 24 ARTHUR J.CLARKE,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 2,711,570 Patented June 28, 1955 2,711,670 PHOTO-PRINTING EASEL Arthur J. Clarke, Richmond, Va., assignor to Clarke Company Incorporated, Roanoke, Va., a corporation of Virginia Application December 18, 1952, Serial No. 326,712

9 Claims. (Cl. 88-24) The following specification relates to an invention in improvements in a photo-printing easel. This has to do with the production of enlargements from photographic negatives, which operation is a material part of the work of the photographer in the processing of pictures. When an enlarging machine is used to copy photographs from a negative, the image is thrown upon a sheet of sensitized paper held by an easel in the optical focus. It is frequently desired to photoprint on the paper out to the actual edges leaving no margins. This is an economy in material, as no paper is used unnecessarily. Furthermore, the trimming operation can be eliminated.

It is characteristic of papers coated with photosensitive emulsion that the paper normally curls or warps with the coated surface slightly concave. This curling must be prevented during the exposure of the paper, and this has led to the use of transparent glass or frames and the like to hold the paper in position.

I have devised an improved easel by which the paper may be exposed to printing out to the extreme edges. it is also possible with my invention to mount the paper sheet rapidly, accurately and in focus, and also to handle the paper with one dry hand and avoid finger marks made by the fingers on the other hand usually used for manipulation in the developing solution.

An object of my invention is to provide an easel having means by which a sheet of paper out to the precise size of the picture may be quickly placed in position and held during exposure.

A further object of my invention is to provide facilities by which the natural curl of the sensitized paper will be useful both in holding the paper in position and in releasing it from the held position after exposure.

A still further object of my invention is to provide holding means which may be adjusted to compensate for changes in dimensions of paper sheets caused by dampness or excessive drying.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide an improved holder of an edge of the paper which may be resiliently displaced in mounting the paper or effecting its subsequent release.

An object of my invention is an easel which will hold the opposite side edges of the paper down against the surface of the easel during exposure.

A still further object of my invention is to provide visible stops at the end edges of the paper to assist in loeating the paper when the vision is impaired by dim light.

Numerous other advantages and features of the inventlOn will be evident from the following detailed description of the preferred form of my invention illustrated in the following drawings in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the improved photo-prinling easel;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of one corner of the easel on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a similar view;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5'S of Fig. 3 and Fig. 6 is a vertical partial section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

In photographic laboratories, where enlargements are made from negatives, the operator must alternately fit the sensitized paper on the easel, and after exposure has been made, remove the paper and handle it in the developing solution. When a sheet of paper is to be exposed, it is important that the paper be placed in posi tion with one hand and without involving the hand which had been put in the developing tank. My improved easel is intended to facilitate positioning the sensitized paper with one hand only.

In comparing or laying out the image prior to exposure of the sensitized paper, it is also desirable to be able to see on the top surface of the easel just what portion of the picture will be contained within the limits of the paper size which has been selected.

My easel, therefore, comprises essentially a firmly held surface on which the image may be composed and readily observed and the paper put into position and removed by one hand only. By using paper of predetermined size, a picture may be made without margins and suitable for mounting in the desired manner without trimming of the edges.

in the drawings I have shown a base 11 which is made of non-warping fiber composition, plywood or similar material. The surface is finished with a plastic layer or a fiat white lacquer in so far as the central area 12 is concerned. It is this surface which will show the image in the exact dimension desired for the ultimate picture.

The central area 12 is surrounded by a border 13. This border preferably is a black tint of non-reflecting (fiat) surface. This will absorb light from the enlarging lens around the actual view to be copied. It will also be easy on the eyes.

The sheet of sensitized paper 14 is of the same size and shape as the central area 12. The paper overlies the area 12 during the printing operation, and means must be provided to hold the paper in place without at the same time obscuring any substantial part of its sensitized surface.

For this purpose I have provided a series of round, vertical holes 15 located one in each corner of the base. Each hole is adapted to receive a paper holder 16 of rubber-like material that is compressible and resilient. The holders are fitted into the holes from beneath, and sufiicient compression occurs to maintain them in adjusted position. Each holder 16 consists of a round body 17 which is frictionally held within the hole 15. Below the body 17 is an extended disk which forms a foot 18 having a friction surface. These feet form supports for holding the device in any given position and prevent slippage.

An eccentric integral shank 19 extends upwardly from the round body 17 and forms part of a holding member. The shank is surmounted by a conical head 20. This conical head has a peripheral lip 21 with a slight overhang substantially inch. The overhang is practically over the nearer edge of the round body 17, as shown in Fig. 5. The overhang is also on a level slightly above the surface of the base 11 by an amount equal to the thickness of the sensitized paper 14. This holds the paper 14 flat against the upper surface of the base without, however, obscuring any substantial part of the surface.

Due to the eccentricity of the shank 19, there is considerable variation allowed for the width of paper. By adjusting the holder 16 in a range of a half circle, the width of the paper between opposite holders may be varied four times the amount of the eccentricity of the shanks 19.

The heads 20 are of a very steep slope in the order of fifteen degrees. It is therefore possible to push the edge of the paper 14 down and cause the heads 20 to tilt, as

While I have shown identical holders in each of the four corners of the easel, it will be evident that the eifectiveness of the holders is such that resilient ones need be provided on only one side of the easel. Int-hat case the holders on theopposite side may be non-resilient.

It is of course necessary that the paper be held at'each of the four corners. The size of the easel is therefore proportioned for the maximum sizeof paper.

When it is desired to accommodate smaller sheets of paper, this may be done by providing intermediate holes 22 on'one side edge of the paper. Corresponding'holes 23 will be provided along the top edge of the easel and in the. body of the easel in positions to form smaller rectangles. This has been shown in dotted lines on Fig. 1, indicating the smaller sizes of paper and the corresponding positions of the holes. The individual holders 16 may then be placed as desired to hold the sheets of paper of selected size.

One end of the easel has a vertical hole 24 in which a vertical stop post 25 is permanently mounted. This post is located along the edge of the area 12 and serves to hold the end edge of the sensitized paper.

The top of the post 25 carries a button 26 of reflective or luminous material to aid in positioning the end edge of the paper.

After the easel has been adjusted in position so that the image is appropriately placed-on the area 12, a sheet of sensitized paper is laid on the upper surface of the easel, and one longitudinal edge fitted under the overhanging lip of two holders. The opposite longitudinal edge of the paper is then placed down against the sloping sides of the two opposite holders. This forces the conical heads out beyond the edge of the paper until the latter passes below the overhanging lip, when the head moves back into vertical position.

In placing the paper in position, use may be made of the stop post 25 to position the end of the paper.

By shifting the positions of three of the holders it is evident that paper of varying sizes may beheld.

' Minor variation in the width of the paper is provided for by the eccentric position of the conical heads from the inner limit shown in Fig. 3, to the outer limit shown in Fig. -4.

. :An easel constructed in the manner above described is peculiarly advantageous when making photographic prints using presized paper. placing the paper in position can be done with only one hand. The natural curl of the sensitized paper is utilized by engaging the holding means. The holding means itself being of resilient material is readily displaced in the operation of positioning the paper. After exposure the paper can be released by finger pressure.

While I have shown an easel being adjustable for paper of varying sizes, still the invention may be carried out without providing this adjustability.

Reference is made to my copending application filed June 21, 1950, Ser. No. 169,456, for disclosure of subjectmatter claimed herein.

Minor changes in proportions, material and the like may be made in the embodiment of the invention with out departing from its scope as defined in the following claims.

'What I claim is:

1. A photo-printing easel comprising a base having a fiat top with rectangularly spaced round vertical holes, paper holding means heldin eac'hhole, the holding means Handling is facilitated, as

on one side of the base consisting of a holder of resilient material frictionally held ineach of the holeson that side,- an extended foot for each such holder beneath the base, an integral head eccentrically disposed on the holder and an overhanging lip on the head at approximately the level of the top of the base.

2. A photo-printing easel comprising a base having a flat top with rectangularly spaced round vertical holes, a holder of resilient material frictionally held in each hole,-an extended foot foreach holder beneath the base, an integral head eccentrically' disposed on the holder and an overhanging lip on the head at approximately the level of the topof the :base. i

3. A photo-printing easel comprising .a base having a flat top with rectangularly spaced round vertical holes, a holder of resilient material frictionally held in each hole, an extended foot for each holder beneath the base, an eccentric resilient shank on each holder and a head on each shank with an overlapping peripheral lip approximately on the level of the "top of the base.

4. A photo-printing easel comprising a base having a flat top with rectangularly spaced round 'vertical ho'les, a holder of resilient material having a round body adjustably fitting rotatabl-y in each hole, an extended foot 'for each holder'beneath the base, an integral head eccentrically disposed on the holder and an overhanging peripheral lip on the head at approximately the level of the top of the base.

5. A photo-printing easel comprising a base having a fiat top With rectangularly spaced round vertical holes, a holder of resilient material having a round body adjustably fitting rotata'bly in each hole, an integral resilient head eccentrically disposed on the holder and an overhanging peripheral lip on the head at approximately the level of the top of the base.

6. A photo-printing easel comprising a base having a flat top, holders along one side of the top and having tapered heads eachwith an-overhangi-ng 'lip, said base having vertical holes alongthe opposite side, a resilient vertical member disposed in each hole onsaid opposite side and having a laterally yieldable eccentric portion with a sloping face and an overhanging lower lip.

7. A photo-printing easel comprising a base having a fiat top, holders mounted forrotatable adjustment on one side of the top and having eccentric conical heads each with an overhanging side edge, said base :having'vertical holes along the opposite side, a resilient vertical member cccentrically disposed in each hole on said opposite side and having a laterally yield-able portion with 'a sloping face and an overhanging lower lip and a stop mounted along one end edge of the base.

8. A'photo-printing easel comprising a base having a fiat top, holders adjustably mounted on one side of the top and having eccentric conical heads eaclnvith an overhanging side edge, said base having vertical holes along the opposite side, a resiilerrt'vertical member eccentrically disposed in each hole on said opposite side and having a laterally yieldable portion with a sloping face "and an'overhanging lower lip and a stop with aluminous top mounted along one end edge of the base.

References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 839,177 Moses et a1 Dec. 25, 1906 864,254 Perkins Aug. 27, 1907 1,688,516 Barker Oct. 23, 1928 2,177,905

McKeehan Oct, 31. 1939 

